The Collected Poems of Freddy the Pig

Freddy the Pig #21

by Walter Rollin Brooks

Whether he's happy or sad Freddy is ever the poet, and his verse―both heavy and light―has created an international fuss among the less gifted pigs and poets. And if Freddy's poetry seems a bit hammy in spots, well...

Genres: Poetry, Childrens

81 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1953

About the author

Walter Rollin Brooks (January 9, 1886 – August 17, 1958) was an American writer best remembered for his short stories and children's books, particularly those about Freddy the Pig and other anthropomorphic animal inhabitants of the "Bean farm" in upstate New York.

Born in Rome, New York, Brooks attended college at the University of Rochester and subsequently studied homeopathic medicine in New York City. He dropped out after two years, however, and returned to Rochester, where he married his first wife, Anne Shepard, in 1909. Brooks found employment with an advertising agency in Utica, and then "retired" in 1911, evidently because he came into a considerable inheritance. His retirement was not permanent: in 1917, he went to work for the American Red Cross and later did editorial work for several magazines, including The New Yorker.

In 1940, Brooks turned to his own writing for his full-time occupation. Walter married his second wife, Dorothy Collins, following the death of Anne in 1952.

The first works Brooks published were poems and short stories. His short story "Ed Takes the Pledge" about a talking horse was the basis for the 1960s television comedy series Mister Ed (credit for creating the characters is given in each episode to "Walter Brooks"). His most enduring works, however, are the 26 books he wrote about Freddy the Pig and his friends.
Source

Reviews

[Christopher Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The collected poetry of America's greatest animal poet.

[Jon]

This was the only Freddy the Pig book I hadn't read & now I've read it....

[Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Collected Poems of Freddy the Pig is a big collection of different poems about a pig named Freddy that writes poetry. It is part of a series of books that are all about Freddy himself. I personally am giving this book a three out of five because I didn't particularly love it but I would still use it to introduce the genre of poetry to my students. I think it would be an appropriate book for grades 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. I did enjoy that the poetry in the book varies and covers different topics, different emotions, etc. I personally would use it in my classroom as a book where I may not have students read the whole book, but rather excerpts. I would find excerpts that have to do with whatever topic of poetry we are covering for the day. For example, I would read them a poem with an ABAB rhyme scheme and then have students create their own!
I would also use this book to introduce students to adjectives because of the way that Freddy expresses a wide range of different feelings.

[Geoffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly breezy, and Wiese's drawings (simpler and more doodle-ish than the norm) are charming, although it's actually missing A LOT of poetry that's appeared throughout the series. This stuff probably works a bit better as occasional garnish to a longer narrative than it does in concentrated form.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freddy the Pig is just as amusing as ever!